Local News

Taraba Assembly Okays Kefas’ N206bn Loan Request To Finance Supplementary Budget

The Taraba house of assembly has approved the N206,778 billion loan request by Agbu Kefas, governor of the state to fund the 2023 supplementary budget.

The lawmakers approved Kefas’ request during plenary on Friday.

The loan will be taken from four commercial banks — Zenith Bank, United Bank for Africa, Keystone Bank and Fidelity Bank — to execute various projects in the state.

A breakdown of the budget showed that the sum of N50 billion was earmarked for the ministry of education, N40 billion for infrastructure, while agriculture, security and health got N30 billion each.

Micro-finance bank, judiciary and house of assembly got N5 billion each.

The women affairs ministry, digital economy and waste management received N2 billion, respectively.

Other sectors got N5.476 billion, while N5 billion was reserved to settle gratuity and enrol more local government retirees into the state’s pension payroll.

“The security of the facility from Zenith Bank Plc shall be deductions from federal allocations to Taraba, security for the facility from UBA Plc shall be deductions from Joint Accounts Allocation Committee (JAAC), while security for the facility from Fidelity Bank shall be deductions from the state’s income value-added tax (VAT) and the security for the facility from Key Stone Bank shall be deductions from internally generated revenue (IGR),” governor’s request reads.

John Bonzena, the speaker of the assembly, said the budget was passed and the loan request approved to enable the governor to initiate projects that would bring about the long-awaited joy to the people.

The speaker expressed concern about the state’s financial challenge and emphasised that it would be harmful to the people if the members delay passing the supplementary budget.

Local News

Police arrest three notorious criminals terrorising Imo community

The Imo State Police Command has arrested three notorious criminals terrorizing the Nekede community.

The spokesperson of the command, ASP Okoye Henry, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, August 15, 2024, said the suspects were arrested for unlawful possession of firearms, armed robbery, cultism, and motorcycle snatching

“In furtherance of the Imo State Police Command’s unalloyed determination to bring crime to its barest minimum in the State, operatives of Nekede Divisional Headquarters through intelligence-led operations and painstaking investigation apprehended three notorious criminal suspects for unlawful possession of firearms, armed robbery, cultism, and motorcycle snatching respectively,” the statement read.

“One of the suspects, John Chukwudi, ‘m’, 27yrs, a native Ntu in Ngor Okpala LGA of Imo State was arrested on 14/08/2024 while on intelligence-led patrol with the local vigilantes, along Human Race Hospital Road, Nekede. Recovered from him include, one locally made pistol and five rounds of live cartridges.

“On interrogation, he confessed to being a member of the black axe confraternity cult group and stated that the gun was given to him by a member of his syndicate, Ugochukwu Ndubuisi aka Dimzi Gate, who is at large.

“In a different development, Elijah Chigemezu, ‘m’, 23yrs of Ezzamgbo in Ebonyi State was apprehended on 11/08/2024, along Cluster Road, Naze, in the very act of dispossessing a young man his phone and personal belongings at gunpoint.

“His arrest was following a swift response to a distress call by police operatives in synergy with the military. One locally made shotgun was recovered from the suspect. On interrogation, he confessed to the crime

“While, Chibieze Tasie ‘m’ 32yrs was apprehended at No 1 Naze, following a thorough investigation into a reported case of motorcycle snatching in Nekede.

“On interrogation, the suspect confessed to having conspired with one Ndubuisi, ‘m’ at large to snatch motorcycles from unsuspecting motorcyclists in Nekede.

“Revealing that he stops a motorcycle rider, and lures him to a lonely location where his syndicate will dispose the rider of his motorcycle. One hundred and seventy thousand Naira was recovered from the suspect as part of the proceeds of his alleged criminal business.

“The suspects have all been transferred to the State Criminals Investigation Department (SCID), Owerri, for consolidation of the ongoing investigation. Efforts are on top gear to apprehend and prosecute the manufacturers of the locally-made pistol. The suspects will certainly have their day in court.”

While commending the operatives for their professionalism in achieving the operational feats, the Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, urged them to sustain the tempo in the onslaught against crime and criminality in the state.

He admonished the good people of Imo State to continue to support the Police and other security agencies with timely and actionable information on any suspicious person or activity observed within their vicinity

Local News

Police arrest notorious bandits, Maude nabbed in Kaduna with N347,000

A 38-year-old notorious bandit identified as Abdulkarim Maude has been arrested at Upara Warsapiti in Lere Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State with a bag containing ransom of ₦347,000.

The spokesperson for the Kaduna Police Command ASP Mansir Hassan confirmed the arrest of the bandit in a statement issued on Tuesday

Maude, according to the statement confessed to being involved in kidnapping for ransom along with one Alhaji Yakubu and two others from Binchim Village, Bassa LGA, Plateau.

Hassan said , “On May 22, at about 10:00hrs, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Saminaka Division, acting on credible intelligence, successfully arrested a suspect identified as Abdulkarim Maude, aged 33, from Tudun Wada Mariri.”

He said the arrest took place in Upara Warsapiti, Lere Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

“Upon his arrest, the suspect was found in possession of a bag containing the sum of ₦347,000, a machete, and some criminal charms,”Hassan said.

According to him, during interrogation, Maude confessed to being involved in kidnapping for ransom along with one Alhaji Yakubu and two others from Binchim Village, Bassa LGA, Plateau.

He said the recovered money was identified as his share of the ransom collected from the kidnapping of two tractor operators, Yau Balele 45 years old and Lukman Abubakar 40 years of age who were abducted on May 17, 2024, while working on the farm of Alhaji Gambo.

“The victims were taken to Binchim Hills, Bassa LGA, Plateau and were released on May 20, 2024.

Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining accomplices, “Hassan said.

He added that the suspect, along with the recovered exhibits, have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.

Hassan said the Commissioner of Police, Mr Ali Dabigi , has assured the public that the command remained committed to ensuring the safety and security of all residents.

He also appreciated the continued support and cooperation from the public and urged everyone to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the police.(NAN)

Local News

EFCC arrests seven suspected internet fraudsters in Makurdi

The Makurdi Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday February 29, 2024, arrested seven suspected internet fraudsters.

They were arrested in their hideout in Aliade in the Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State.

Items recovered from them include eight phones, three iPad, two internet routers and one international passport.

The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.